Positive ion generator...probably not allowed.
So I've heard positive ion generators are good for your health and promote a general sense of well being and happiness.
However, they also increase likelihood of lightning strikes when it's turned on.
On the off chance I manage to get my hands on one of these things before I can come to the con(and manage to get it through the airport), would I be able to bring it to anthrocon?
Well, first, you're looking for a negative ion generator.
You should be able to bring one of those in.. for your hotel room if you wish. There are not going to be available outlets for their use in the public spaces of the hotel nor the Convention center. (Electrical hookups are a $25 premium for Dealer's Room tables because of the cost, for example.)
I'm skeptical of the claims of Neg-ion generators; while there are studies which support them, a lot of it seems to be hype over fairly small effects, and most of the negative-ion generators out there have small effects.
Forgive my ignorance, but what exactly is this contraption supposed to do?
Its an air cleaner, or high voltage genorator, otherwise somthing from star wars.
So, I've heard that 'ions' and 'ionic' are generally terms used by companies making a quick buck off folks who want to feel better but perhaps don't put their purchases through any degree of scientific rigor. I've also heard that 'promoting a general sense of well being and happiness' is code for 'the FDA forbids us from making any specific claims of benefits so we have to make non-specific ones so as not to get slapped with a huge fine.'
I'd probably not bother bringing one, and if you bought one, I'd highly recommend finding the store at which you purchased it (assuming it's not sharper image, which incidentally went out of business in large part due to its ionic breeze scam) and returning the device, then punching each and every employee there in the mouth several times.
Also, while I'm certainly not a meteorologist or even well versed in electricity, I do not believe that the small number of ions that could be generated by any such device would actually create a significant enough impact to increase the likelihood of being struck by lightening. I'd be willing to bet that that warning is similar to those 'do not take while pregnant' and such warnings that some manufacturers slap on their homeopathic pills - makes you think it's more powerful than it really is.
For more detail, I tracked down an article about negative ions for you. I'm not too familiar with Mr. Static, but this column was vetted by the Incredible, Amazing Mr. James Randi so I'm fairly confident in its truthfulness.
There's little research on the positive or negative effects of ionizing the atmosphere in your personal space from a health point of view. It will give you pleasant felling exactly as going outside after a Spring thunderstorm for the same reason.
If you are worried about your health while traveling, you'd be much better served bringing a small humidifier as hotel rooms are well known to be very dry.
And no, while a charged, ionized atmosphere will encourage lightning, you'd need a generator about the size of the hotel to make a difference.
Greetings, Prokadae!
...I've heard positive ion generators are good for your health and promote a general sense of well being and happiness.
I generally get good results with chocolate, both through direct application...and indirectly, judging by positive physical feedback from carefully-chosen recipients. On-going study of the latter condition has lead to encouraging (and pleasurable) results.
I'd say it would be just as allowed as a magic wands, healing crystals, homeopathic anything, and bigfoot repellent.
...And would give results of similar quality and effectiveness.
(Except for the bigfoot repellent - I hear that stuff works wonders! No one that uses it EVER sees bigfoot...)
~ Nonsanity
My Bigfoot Repeller works like MAGIC! Though it does tend to attract Wyndigos.
Please tell me you listen to SGU or at least watch BS. :]
Gads!
I thought for a minute you were gonna say you wanted to use the generator to make your fur stand up or some such.
Those ion things only do two things:
1) Make your fur stand up.
2) Piss off the furry hams by making interference all over that radio bands.
No real health benefits unless they weigh a lot and you lug them up 10 flights of stairs... which is something you might end up doing at Anthrocon.
Jeef
that first bit'd be pretty cool. but i don't think that works with plastic fiber-ish fur, which is what most people use, i think.
then again, my knowledge of science hasn't been all that reliable lately. shows what you get for getting your science from an old doctor who episode. 
The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe podcast ROCKS, as does their shorter "5x5" podcast, Quackwatch, and Skeptoid.
Anyone that cares whether or not they get taken in by cons, scams, and hoaxes would do well to listen to podcasts such as those from time to time. Or befriend a skeptic who can help you find out which claims are true and which are so much smoke & mirrors wrapped in "quantum" technobabble.
Someday when I have the time, I plan to do a vidcast series about skeptical topics with puppets.
~ Nonsanity
You just described my entire collection of feeds in google listen :]
I like you a lot already.
I don't listen to that PC, though it sounds fun.
I DO watch "BS", P&T rock.
I'm a member of the JREF - (http://www.randi.org/)
I lecture on Skeptical topics (Moon Landing and 9/11 Hoaxes, Anti-Vaxers)
SGU is one of the best podcasts produced, period. It's nearly 2 hours long and weekly so it's really substantial. There's a crew of hosts who are really personable and funny, they're all extremely intelligent (the lead is Steven Novella, who's head of the NESS/Science Based Medicine and you would be AMAZED at this guy's breadth of knowledge) and they have a way of making any news fun to listen to and really informative. Seriously, I wait like anxiously every week for it and it's pretty much invaluable if you're trying to counter any sort of woo in casual conversation. James Randi makes appearances from time to time and they have lots of really good guests like Michio Kaku and Adam Savage from Mythbusters. Highly recommended.
Skeptoid's also amazing, it's 10 minutes weekly focused on a single subject that's not necessarily relevant to current events, but it's really, really fun and Brian Dunning is also a very talented host.
If you have any interest in the skeptical community (as a member of the JREF obviously does) there is no reason to not listen to these.
Shouldn't you be asking this of the hotel? I mean, that is where you're planning on using it, right?